John 8:1-59
The law says. Standard for judgement. Knowing God. You will die in your sin. You are from below. When Jesus is lifted up. Sin and freedom. Jesus’ teaching. Before Abraham, I am.
(Bấm vào đây để đọc tiếng Việt)
JOHN 8:1-59
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came to the temple courts again. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. 3 The experts in the law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of them 4 and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. 5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone to death such women. What then do you say?" 6 (Now they were asking this in an attempt to trap him, so that they could bring charges against him.) Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight and replied, "Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 Then he bent over again and wrote on the ground. 9 Now when they heard this, they began to drift away one at a time, starting with the older ones, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up straight and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" 11 She replied, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more."]] 12 Then Jesus spoke out again, "I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 13 So the Pharisees objected, "You testify about yourself; your testimony is not true!" 14 Jesus answered, "Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you people do not know where I came from or where I am going. 15 You people judge by outward appearances; I do not judge anyone. 16 But if I judge, my evaluation is accurate, because I am not alone when I judge, but I and the Father who sent me do so together. 17 It is written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I testify about myself and the Father who sent me testifies about me." 19 Then they began asking him, "Who is your father?" Jesus answered, "You do not know either me or my Father. If you knew me you would know my Father too." 20 (Jesus spoke these words near the offering box while he was teaching in the temple courts. No one seized him because his time had not yet come.) 21 Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will look for me but will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come." 22 So the Jewish leaders began to say, "Perhaps he is going to kill himself, because he says, 'Where I am going you cannot come.'" 23 Jesus replied, "You people are from below; I am from above. You people are from this world; I am not from this world. 24 Thus I told you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins." 25 So they said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus replied, "What I have told you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the Father who sent me is truthful, and the things I have heard from him I speak to the world." 27 (They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.) 28 Then Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak just what the Father taught me. 29 And the one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do those things that please him." 30 While he was saying these things, many people believed in him. 31 Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, "If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 "We are descendants of Abraham," they replied, "and have never been anyone's slaves! How can you say, 'You will become free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the family forever, but the son remains forever. 36 So if the son sets you free, you will be really free. 37 I know that you are Abraham's descendants. But you want to kill me, because my teaching makes no progress among you. 38 I am telling you the things I have seen while with the Father; as for you, practice the things you have heard from the Father!" 39 They answered him, "Abraham is our father!" Jesus replied, "If you are Abraham's children, you would be doing the deeds of Abraham. 40 But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham did not do this! 41 You people are doing the deeds of your father." Then they said to Jesus, "We were not born as a result of immorality! We have only one Father, God himself." 42 Jesus replied, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come from God and am now here. I have not come on my own initiative, but he sent me. 43 Why don't you understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot accept my teaching. 44 You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I am telling you the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Who among you can prove me guilty of any sin? If I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 The one who belongs to God listens and responds to God's words. You don't listen and respond, because you don't belong to God." 48 The Judeans replied, "Aren't we correct in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?" 49 Jesus answered, "I am not possessed by a demon, but I honor my Father - and yet you dishonor me. 50 I am not trying to get praise for myself. There is one who demands it, and he also judges. 51 I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys my teaching, he will never see death." 52 Then the Judeans responded, "Now we know you're possessed by a demon! Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet you say, 'If anyone obeys my teaching, he will never experience death.' 53 You aren't greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?" 54 Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless. The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people say, 'He is our God.' 55 Yet you do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his teaching. 56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see my day, and he saw it and was glad." 57 Then the Judeans replied, "You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!" 59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out from the temple area. (John 8:1-59)
THE LAW SAYS
5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone to death such women. What then do you say?” 6 (Now they were asking this in an attempt to trap him, so that they could bring charges against him.) Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7 When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight and replied, “Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.” … 10 Jesus stood up straight and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She replied, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”]] (John 8:5-7,10-11)
In Matthew 23:24, Jesus denounces the hypocrisy of those who ingest a camel while meticulously filtering out a tiny gnat. However, in James 2:10, it is stated that “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it,” suggesting that a gnat offense is equally significant as a camel offense.
The individuals adhering to the law are not mistaken in recognizing the woman’s wrongdoing, but their error lies in their failure to acknowledge their own camel-sized or gnat-sized transgressions in their own lives. If the law were to be strictly enforced without exceptions, all of humanity would find itself liable to the most severe consequences.
STANDARD FOR JUDGEMENT
15 You people judge by outward appearances; I do not judge anyone. 16 But if I judge, my evaluation is accurate, because I am not alone when I judge, but I and the Father who sent me do so together. (John 8:15-16)
The NIV translation suggests that people employ “human standards” for judgment, but these standards are both changeable and subjective. They assess others by drawing comparisons with themselves, yet this approach lacks precision since it doesn’t make a meaningful distinction when one fallen sinner is compared to another.
Here is God’s standard:
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
KNOWING GOD
19 Then they began asking him, “Who is your father?” Jesus answered, “You do not know either me or my Father. If you knew me you would know my Father too.” (John 8:19)
To understand God, it’s essential to acquaint yourself with Jesus. However, comprehending Jesus solely through the gospel can be challenging, as he frequently spoke in parables with concealed meanings. For a more thorough explanation of Jesus, consider reading Paul’s letters, where he provides a clearer understanding of him.
YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR SIN
21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will look for me but will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” (John 8:21)
You will “die in your sin” because you are seeking him in the incorrect places. While you explore the Scriptures in the pursuit of eternal life, they direct you to Jesus, but you fail to recognize his presence (John 5:39).”
Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith. (Galatians 3:24)
Upon encountering Christ, you should release your grip on the hand of your guardian, the law. However, it appears that you are still entangled with your guardian, who is incapable of bestowing upon you the righteousness of God.
YOU ARE FROM BELOW
23 Jesus replied, “You people are from below; I am from above. You people are from this world; I am not from this world. (John 8:23)
Even though Jesus assumed a human form, His origin is divine, while yours is not. Jesus is eternally God, and divinity can never cease to be divine. He remains the eternal “I-AM.” Some faith teachers claim that Jesus relinquished His divinity when He became human, arguing that if He, in His complete humanity, could perform miracles, then humans can do the same. If this were true, it would suggest that I, too, could bear the cross for the world’s sins.
Hear what Jesus said, “You people are from below; I am from above.”
WHEN JESUS IS LIFTED UP
28 Then Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he (John 8:28)
Jesus predicted his crucifixion.
SIN AND FREEDOM
31 Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 “We are descendants of Abraham,” they replied, “and have never been anyone’s slaves! How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the family forever, but the son remains forever. 36 So if the son sets you free, you will be really free. … 44 You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. (John 8:31-36,44)
What is the profound truth that Jesus imparts, which has the power to liberate you? As previously mentioned, many of His teachings contain veiled meanings, but thankfully, God has used Paul’s epistles to elucidate them for us, the New Covenant Christians.
The freedom Jesus offers pertains to liberation from sin, and He grants us this freedom through the forgiveness of our sins. However, this forgiveness can only be received by placing faith in what He accomplished on the cross.
Interestingly, the Judeans surrounding Jesus refused to acknowledge their own sinfulness. They declared, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone! How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” Shouldn’t the Mosaic law have exposed their sinful nature? Paradoxically, it seemed to instill in them a misguided sense of self-righteousness.
JESUS’ TEACHING
47 The one who belongs to God listens and responds to God’s words. You don’t listen and respond, because you don’t belong to God.” … 51 I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys my teaching, he will never see death.” (John 8:47,51)
Many Christians assume that Jesus’ teaching may include the Sermon on the Mount, or the love commandment that summarizes all of the law. But few realize that he simply reiterated the Old Covenant’s law and commandments to drive his audience to the point of utmost despair that they have to look to the cross.
The law cannot take care of the sin problems, but the cross can. The letter of the law kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor 3:6).
45“Do not suppose that I will accuse you before the Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. 46If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47But if you do not believe what Moses wrote, how will you believe my words?” (John 5:45-47)
BEFORE ABRAHAM, I AM
56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 Then the Judeans replied, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!” 59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out from the temple area. (John 8:56-59)
Jesus confirms His divine nature.
Nghi Nguyen
- Scripture quoted by permission. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: This is my own opinion on the topic, which does not necessarily reflect the church's theology, or beliefs of the individuals in it — Nghi Nguyen
